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('Model.)

T. 0. L. SGHRADER. Self Leveling Berth for Vessels. No. 233,376. Pa nted Oct. 19,1880.

WITNESSES: v INVENTR= ATTORNEY.

N.FETERS, PHOTO-Ll] HOGRANER, WASHINRTON, D 9- NITED STATES PATENT OFF CE.

THEODORE O. L. SOHRADER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

SELF-LEVELING BERTH FOR VESSELS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 233,376, dated October 19, 1880.

Application filed September 14, 1880. (ModeL) To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THEo. O. L. SCHRADER, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Self-Leveling Berths for Vessels, of which the following is a specification.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a side elevation, partly in vertical section, of my improved self-leveling berth for vessels. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on line w :r, Fig. 1, showing also a bottom view of the berth. Fig. 3' is a vertical transverse section of the same-on liney y, Fig. 1; and Fig. 4, a detail view of the locking spring-bolt of the berth.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

This invention relates to self-leveling ships berths of that class in which a universal joint and counterpoise-weight is employed for keeping the berth at all times in a horizontal position during the rolling or pitching motion of the vessel, so as to prevent seasickness and increase the comfort of the passengers.

Heretofore self -lcveling ships berths required necessarily a great deal of space, as they had to be arranged at a sufficient distance from the walls to allow the proper swinging of the berth in either direction to prevent any danger of injury to the limbs by wedging them in between the berth andwalls of the cabin. The loss of room is a great disadvantage, as it is one of the requirements of ships furniture to be as compact as possible.

Another disadvantage of the self-leveling berths consists in the difficulty of gettin g in and out of the berth, especially in rough weather, as the same is always in motion, following the motion of the vessel. It has been sought to accomplish this by bolts or hooks; but these are not within reach of theoccupant, and, though admitting the locking of the berth to the cabin-walls, give the occupant no control over the bed, so as to make it dangerous for him to get in and out.

My invention is designed to furnish an improved self-levelin g ships berth in which provisions are made for the perfect security of the occupant without any unnecessary waste of space, and in which the berth may be locked from the inside or outside by the occupant, and

thereby be prevented from following the motion of the vessel in either direction.

The invention consists of a ships berth which is supported on a double swivel or universal joint and balanced by a counter-weight, the berth being provided with fixed arc-shaped end guards and a rear guard, which is connected to the berth and suspended by cords, pulleys, and springs, so as to follow the motion of the berth. A second set of cords, pulleys, and springs connected with the front part of the berth serve to balance the rear guard and to neutralize the influence of its springs on the berth. The berth is also provided at the under side with longitudinal spring-bolts and suitable releasing-cords, the spring-bolts being so constructed that on operating the releasing mechanism they are only thrown or withdrawn when both berth and vessel arrive at the horizontal position, so as to lock or release the berth to or from its swivel-frame. The swivel-frame is rigidly held in position, when desired, by transverse supports, which are pivoted to the floor and actuated by spiral springs, so as to be swung up when their releasing mechanism is liberated.

Referring to the drawings, A represents a ships berth, which is hung by end pivots, a, to a swivel-frame, A, the latter being supported by side pivots, a, to fixed bearings of the cabin-wall and front rail or frame of the berth, so as to form thus with the berth the well-known double swivel or universal joint. To the under side of the berth is attached, either rigidly or adjustably, a counterpoiseweight, A by which it is steadied and maintained in proper horizontal position during'the motion of the vessel. At both ends of the berth are arranged arc-shaped guards B, having inwardly-projecting flanges, which serve to protect the occupant against any wedging in of the limbs between the berth and the walls of the cabin. To the rear side of the berth is applied, by means of hinges, hooks and eyes, or other connecting devices, a rear guard, U, which may be either of rigid or yielding material, as desired. I prefer to use canvas, though sheet metal or other material may be used.

The rear guard, O, is interposed between the berth and the wall of the cabin, and extended sufiiciently so as to overlap the rigid end guards, B, and form contact therewith. The rear guard, C, is supported in upright position by suspension-cords b, which pass over top pulleys, b, on the ceiling of the cabin,and then to compensating-springs I), which allow the rear guard to follow rigidly every motion of the berth, while always retaining it in an upright position.

When the rear guard is of canvas it is kept in a stretched position by the springs 11 and in close contact with the end guards, B, so that there is no danger of injury by any accidental wedging in of the limbs or of the bedcovering between the berth and cabin-wall.

For the purpose of neutralizing the influence of the guard-supporting springs b on the berth and of balancing the weight of the rear guard, the front part of the berth is also connected, by cords d passing over pulleys d, to corresponding front springs, 01 as without this halancing arrangement the berth would be liable to be thrown out of the level and sag to one side. The end and rear guards admit that the berth may be arranged close to the wall Without any loss of space, which is an essential point on board of ship.

Wheneverit is desired to interrupt theinovements of the berth A and of the swivel-frame A, either for getting in or out of the berth or for cleaning the same, or for holding it fixedly when the vessel is in port, the berth, as well as the swivel-frame, can be supported in fixed position, one by spring-bolts E and releasingcords e, the other by hinged and spring-acted transverse supports F and similar releasingcordsf. The spring-bolts E are guided at the under side of the berth A, each being acted upon by two spiral springs, e 0 the spring 0 being interposed between the outer perforated guide of the bolt and a shoulder of the bolt, the other between a sliding washer and the second guide of the bolt, as shown in Fig. 4, said washer being connected to the releasing-cord e. The spring 0 is stronger than the outer spring, so that it can overcome the power of the latter.

When itis desired to release the berth from the swivel-frame A the cords e are pulled, which causes the compression of the stronger spring :2 and leaves the spring 0 free to act whenever both ship and berth arrive at the horizontal position, in which position there is no pressure on the bolt so that the spring 6 may release the same from the swivel-frame A. The berth is then free to level itself on its pivots.

By releasing the cords the second spring expands, overcomes the power of the first spring, and serves to throw the bolt into the socket of the swivel-frame as soon as the vessel, as well as the berth, are in the horizontal position, in which position the center lines of bolt and socket coincide. In this manner the releasing or pulling of the cords produces, by means of the springs, the automatic throwing or releasing of the bolts at the proper time, and consequently the locking or liberating of the berth.

The ends of the releasing-cords e e are, like those of the releasingcords of the supports F, provided with ring-shaped handles, which are retained, respectively, on books or knobs of the berth or exterior frame, as shown in Fig. 1, and prevented in any suitable manner from dropping or detaching themselves from the berth or frame.

The transverse supports F are hinged to the floor of the cabin and acted upon axially by coiled springs, which are connected, respectively, to the floor and pivot-shafts of the supports, and then properly conducted through eyes or over rollers to the outer stationary frame of the berth or to the floor of the cabin, as deemed most convenient. Bypulling the cords the supports are swung down until nearlylevel with the floor, and then retained in this position by the handle, so as to be entirely out of the way of the swivel-frame. On releasing the cords the springs raise the supports, throwing first one of them under that end of the swivel-frame which is at the moment highest, and when the position of the swivel-frame has changed the other support under the other end of the same, until it is rigidly fixed by the supports and prevented from following the motion of the "essel.

The lowering of the supports may be assisted by means of levers on the pivot-shafts of the supports. In place of the spring-bolts which lock the berth to the swivel-frame, and their actuating mechanisms, as well as in place of the supports and their operating devices, other mechanical devices by which the same results are obtained may be used, as I deem it an essential feature for the practical introduction of self-leveling berths to give the occupant full control of the same, so as to enable him to get in or out whenever he desires, without compelling him to remain in the berth to be rocked to and fro until the berth is secured by exterior means.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patcut-- 1. A self-leveling berth for vessels, provided with arc-shaped end guards having inwardlyextendiug flanges, substantially as described.

2. The combination of a self-levelin g berth with a rear guard, which is flexibly connected to the berth and hung to yielding suspension devices, whereby the rear guard is enabled to follow the motion of the berth in every direction, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination of a self-leveling berth having fixed end guards, provided with inwardlyextending flanges, with a yieldinglysuspended rear guard, which is flexibly secured to the side of the berth and arranged to overlap the flanged end guards, substantially as specified.

4. The combination of a double swiveled and counterpoised berth with a rear guard connected flexibly thereto, and with suspensioncords passing over top pulleys overhead, and being connected to springs, substantially as specified.

5. The combination of a double swiveled and counterpoised berth with a rear guard having yielding suspension devices, and with yielding balancing suspension devices connected to the front of the berth, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

6. The combination of an oscillating berth having guided and sliding bolts acted upon by differential springs with a swivel-frame having sockets for the bolts, and with releasing mechanism connected to the bolts, whereby the latter are automatically thrown into or withdrawn from the socket of the swivel-frame when the releasing mechanism has first been operated, substantially as described.

7. The combination of the berth-supporting swivel-frame with hinged and spring-acted transverse supports below the swivel-frame, and with mechanism by which the supports may be lowered or raised, to admit the swivelframe to oscillate or be supported in rigid position, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name,in presence of two witnesses, this 28th day of J anuo ary, 1880.

THEODORE O. L. SCHRADER.

Witnesses PAUL GoEPEL, ADOLF DENGLER. 

